Chapter 133: 2.10 Paradise (4)
"Hey Xander! That was some pretty cool magic you performed. How did you finally figure out how to cast and control it?" Sora said excitedly while Brie picked up her son, hugging and kissing him proudly.
"Nana Fena and I were talking and she explained that it’s not magical abilities that make someone good or bad, it’s how the person uses the magic that makes them good or bad. If someone uses magic to help people, they’re good. If they use it to hurt people, they’re bad. I understand now." Xander bragged. "After she explained that, it made it easier for me to think of what I wanted my magic to do!"
"He did very well. Hopefully we didn’t pull you two out of something important. I am certain Xander, the two of you and Chronos are the only ones who would know that time was reversed. It only happened in Paradise so nothing to worry about. This is something we will have to exercise caution with. Manipulating time too frequently will disrupt the natural flow of reality," Athena explained calmly.
"I understand that very well, your Majesty. When I stopped time for everyone other than Tesarion and myself, if Xander somehow broke everyone else out of my spell and lost control of time... that would have been very dangerous. I am starting to understand why Chronos always said humans will never fully understand the meaning or constructs of time," Sora said calmly.
"Well, now that he’s managed to cast this, I think we should work toward mastering his other abilities. We know he can fast forward and reverse time as well as have it individually impact someone. He has so many other things we need to work on," Athena said while smiling at Xander. "How were you two able to sense that you were reversing through time?"
"I’m guessing because we shared our souls when we got married. Our child cast the spell, so he shares a part of both of our souls from the elven blessing. Perhaps that explains why he’s able to break out of my time spell. Maybe Brie can too? We should try to see if she’s able to while we’re here." Sora suggested.
"How could I possibly do that? I wouldn’t even know where to start! Every time you use it my mind goes blank and I don’t feel anything," Brie frowned.
"Mama, you can do it! That’s how I felt at first but then I started thinking about you and dada. Once I started thinking about you and dada, I forced myself to keep trying to break out of his spell and eventually it just became easy to do." Xander said excitedly.
"I’d love to work on this, but Athena, there’s something we need to talk to you about." Sora said with a concerned tone.
"Lockheart’s whisper: Xander, Brie, Athena and myself."
"Ok, I need to teleport you somewhere. I think I’ve found something hidden in Paradise The Fallen don’t want you to know about."
Athena raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean? I’m certain I know everything about Paradise, other than who is conspiring against me."
Xander grabbed Athena’s hand as Sora grabbed Brie’s and Brie grabbed Xander’s. They arrived at the end of the dirt road.
"So, when we walk forward, we’re going to see black stones with creepy symbols in a really strange formation. There are false floors covered with grass that hide a portal that dropped us into a realm with mutated creatures chanting some nonsense about feeding the gods to master." Sora said and Brie shivered, shaking her head.
"I’ve been here before, I don’t remember any stones." Athena said with a frown.
They walked forward until they saw the stones sitting in the same strange formation.
"They’re right up there! The one on the far left has an eye with a pentagram pupil. Is that the eye of the Fallen members?" Brie asked while pointing to the stone.
"I’ve never seen such a thing. Are you sure you two weren’t just experiencing side effects of Xander’s magic?" Athena questioned, concerned for the couple.
"Just be careful where you walk. I’ll create a bridge about three feet off the ground so we don’t fall into any traps." Sora said, snapping his fingers. A dirt bridge formed and extended well past the stones.
They stepped on the bridge and walked until the symbols were visible.
Athena gasped. "What is this? Who placed these here and when? Why didn’t Chronos notice it and tell me? This is not good."
"Calm down your majesty, we’ll get to the bottom of this. Brie touched this stone, with the eye, and I think it opened some kind of portal. Do you mind if I burn the ground to see if we can see anything?" Sora asked politely.
Athena didn’t waste time and burned everything around the stones. Paradise’s core usually had an ethereal golden glow. The portal started decaying the land, spreading an ashy, cracked black surface that expanded out past the stones.
"Someone is trying to bring the Underworld to Paradise. Xander, your notebook. How many gods and goddesses are there?" Athena asked, frustrated.
Xander quickly grabbed it out of his back pocket. "70. That doesn’t count the 470 souls I’ve found. There may be more. We’ve only been here for two months."
Sora thought of Xander’s interactions with Lox. "Xander, why do you act so strangely around Lox? What’s wrong buddy, you can tell us, we won’t be upset."
"Lox is consistently a mix of black and gold. I think it’s because someone is forcing him to spy otherwise something will happen to his kids. Anytime anyone with a black aura comes around his children, he gets super scared. I’ve learned that black in the brain is fear, and the faster it spirals, the more afraid someone is." Xander said as a few tears dropped from his eyes.
"You’re doing a great job sweetie." Brie said as she wiped his tears from his cheeks. "Do you know which gods and goddesses scare Lox?"
Xander nodded his head no.
They four turned as they could hear voices. They saw a dark red portal pulsating on the ground, right behind the stone with the eye.
Athena’s golden eyes burned with anger as she used her unique mixture of gold and white magic. She set the portal ablaze and the screams of the creatures from the portal echoed throughout the area.
Athena began furiously smashing stone after stone with magic Sora and Brie had never seen before. It was a combination of fire, wind, water and earth, wrapped up into one powerful gold and white swirling ball, obliterating everything in its path. As the stones shattered, red, black and gold dust started evaporating into the sky.
"Nana Fena, are you ok? Those were souls, weren’t they?" Xander asked somberly. "I could see their black aura. Who trapped them in stones and why?"
"I am not certain, but we must find out!" Athena said and took a deep breath to regain her composure.
"Well, I am sorry you saw me in that state. It is not often I use those powers but it was the only way to shatter the souls creating a rupture in Paradise."
"Your Majesty, you must do whatever is necessary to protect Paradise. We will help you in any way you wish." Sora said respectfully.
"He’s right Athena. You can’t do this alone. I know you wanted to eliminate all the traitors at once, but I think you should make an example out of them. Sora can do some nasty illusions. Make him be the bad god who carries out your wrath," Brie suggested while mouthing "I love you sorry," to Sora.
"I am happy to do so for you. Xander, if my aura changes, let me know immediately, ok little buddy?"
"You got it dada! Nana Fena... I think my parents are right. Look! Paradise is becoming its normal beautiful self in the area you destroyed!"
******
The masked god screamed in anger, "Those mother fuckers!"
Hades appeared and wasn’t in the mood for jokes or laughter.
"Those fucking Lockhearts are in Paradise, you were right. What the hell do you think we should do now?"
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